Rene pats her hand, but doesn't respond to that. Finally, Jean-Pierre is wheeled out. He's asleep, with bandages on his face and arms and the blanket drawn up to his chest. The nurses get him situated and everyone but Rene and Ann-Marie run in. Four is the max. Still, now that Rene is waiting his turn, eagerly wanting to be in there, Celine feels more like a fish out of water. She knows she doesn't belong. She stays behind when Rene does go in and Victoria comes out, panting. "Are you okay?" Celine asks her, not sure how involved to get. Victoria just hugs her. "He is so beaten up! If ... if I hadn't told him to hurry. If he'd just gotten on the road a little faster because I called him on time ..." "It's not your fault." Celine promises. "It's not. The roads are icy and people don't always drive safely. I'm sure that Jean-Pierre was eager to get to you and just didn't see the othercar." Victoria nods, but clings to Celine, soaking her shirt with tears and snot. Celine pets her hair, promises it's okay, then just sits there holding her as she cries. Victoria eventually cries herself out and then yawns. After looking around, she ducks back into the room, not caring that they were told to limit the number of people. Celine can't follow though. It feels wrong to go into the room when she's only met Jean-Pierre once or twice. She's not family. But that doesn't mean she can't help, right? She takes a steadying breath, then walks to the nurse's counter. "I'd like to leave some money for Rene and his family." "Um ... okay?" The nurse guesses. Just enough to cover food." She starts laying bills down and sees the nurse's eyes bulge."And can you recommend a hotel in the area?" "Yes. There is a small one within walking distance." "Can I call them please?" The nurse dials the number and hands over the phone, watching Celine like she recognizes her, or like she should recognize her. When the person from the hotel gets on the line,Celine makes sure they have a suite with a pull out bed available, one with two queen beds. She pays for two nights, just in case they want to stay another night before driving anywhere, and hands the phone back to the nurse. "Thank you. Just make sure they get the money since I'm sure they're going to be eager for food." "Aren't you going to stay? To check on the patient?" The nurse insists. "I ... I think that they need to be together as a family. For now, that's the most I can do for any of them without overstepping." Celine shrugs with a small smile. "But do let Rene know,if he asks, that I've gone home and that everything is set up for them. The last thing they need to worry about is paying for food or a hotel." The nurse stops Celine for a moment. "Are you sure you want to leave?" "I am. I need to get to my own parents. Nothing makes a girl feel like she needs her mom and dad more than seeing a mom and dad mourn." Celine rubs her arm. She heads back downstairs and to her vehicle. She navigates through traffic carefully and then hugs both her parents when she gets home. She cries as she clings to her mother.
